Talk:Strain theory (sociology)

Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment
This article is or was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Ap842, Gandhiaj.

Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 10:16, 17 January 2022 (UTC)

Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment
This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 23 January 2019 and 15 May 2019. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Zehfussem.

Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 10:16, 17 January 2022 (UTC)

wikify
Having 6 or 7 paragraphs without a single wikified link is rare. Just browsing through them, I see many that should be linked according to Build the web, such as names. I see your the primary editor of this page. Good work! I'll leave the wikify tag off for now, since it's too big and ugly and I'm going to wikify it a bit later. Gflores Talk 07:53, 7 March 2006 (UTC)


 * I note your reference to the guideline (not a policy) and I thank you for leaving the Wikify tag off. I am against the inclusion of too many links. I think it patronising to the lay reader to link words of obvious meaning (it expects them to be so stupid as not to know what such words mean). I agree that words with a more specialised or jargonised meaning should always be linked which is what I have done. I am sure that we can agree some form of compromise on the finished version but I invite you not to start the ball rolling by linking every single word that could be linked. Let us both agree in advance to adopt a sensitive approach to any Wikifying. David91 08:30, 7 March 2006 (UTC)


 * I wikified it a bit after glancing over it. I understand where you're coming from, but linking is not just for finding the meaning of the term, but also finding more information if the reader so chooses; this is one of the reasons why we link dates. As a guideline, "it may be advisable to follow it." You may want to also read WP:MOS and WP:CONTEXT. It's up to you, I didn't think I'd get opposition... Cheers. Gflores Talk 17:24, 7 March 2006 (UTC)
 * My apologies. I am always a little cautious when I meet someone new to me. I have now added you to my growing list of persons who can simply be left to get on with things. David91 17:38, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

Can Goals be Social?
The use of the term "goals" for a society is problematic. If you can find a cite that, say, Merton used the word that way, fine. Otherwise, way too much personification. Can a sociologist subsitute another word if it doesn't do violence to the theory? DCDuring 15:27, 11 September 2007 (UTC)

Merger Proposal
Structural Strain Theory is a duplicative article, it seems, and should be merged into this one. Any objections? Suggestions?--Typing Monkey - (type to me) 04:08, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Value-added theory
From the lead of that article: "Value-added theory (also known as social strain theory)" - but they seem to discuss different concepts. Should that be removed from that lead? --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus 16:43, 24 August 2010 (UTC)

Planned changes for class assignment. Insight welcomed
The article I am planning on editing is Strain Theory (sociology). My plan is as follows: 1.Introduces more precise citations into both the article and reference page. 2.I will work on removing useless/incorrect citations, and information from theses sources. 3.Adding more on Strain Theory itself, as the majority of the article centers around the people behind it. 4.Introduces studies done on Strain Theory. 5.Add in the criticism on Strain Theory. 6.Adding information on the people who advanced the theory like Robert K. Merton.

That is my plan for editing this article. — Preceding unsigned comment added by AlxRgo196 (talk • contribs) 21:55, 23 February 2016 (UTC)


 * Great start, Alex, but I need you to add bibliographic citations from academic articles and books that you have researched on this topic. Also, please sign your messages by putting four "~" at the end of every comment you make on Wikipedia.  Alfgarciamora (talk) 01:21, 24 February 2016 (UTC)

Additional planning: insight still welcome
In addition to my original plan, I will try to add in more information about the different strain theories such as Robert K. Merton's original theory as well as Cloward & Ohlin strain based theory. That is all for now.AlxRgo196 (talk) 17:27, 25 February 2016 (UTC)

Bibliography of sources I am going to uses. Insight still welcome
Bibliography: 1.Bonger, Willem Adriaan, and Austin T. Turk. Criminality and Economic Conditions. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 1969. Print. 2.Cloward, Richard A., and Lloyd E. Ohlin. 1960. Delinquency and Opportunity Structure: A Theory of Delinquent Gangs. New York: Free Press. 3.Merton, Robert King. Social Theory and Social Structure; toward the Codification of Theory and Research. Glencoe, IL: Free, 1957. Print. I will you more, but this what I have so far.AlxRgo196 (talk) 18:17, 25 February 2016 (UTC)


 * This is a good start, but note that your citations are from 1969, 1960, and 1957. The work by Robert Merton is probably the most relevant, but you should check out his articles on the topic before delving into his books.  You should, as well, meet with Sarah Hammill to discuss how you might go about reverse citing the Merton works to see who has been citing him most recently.  Try typing in "Strain Theory" in Google Scholar and also see who has been working on this topic recently.  Your best bet is to start with articles because they will be easier to read and digest than books at this point.  You can leave the books for later.  Alfgarciamora (talk) 18:27, 25 February 2016 (UTC)

Plan addition: general strain theory. Insight welcome
I am thinking about putting in a small definition of general strain theory(GST) and a link to the Wikipedia article. I am going to do this to help others as it will separate the two theory, show a more visible way that there is a GST article and a way to get there. I would like some insight on if I should or should not do this. AlxRgo196 (talk) 18:41, 26 February 2016 (UTC)
 * I think that this is a good idea. I'm unsure on the details on what separates General Strain Theory and Strain Theory, but that would be something useful for this article for sure. Have you found good academic articles on these topics? Like I said, Merton is a classic, but there has been a lot of other work that has drawn from him and has improved his theories.  Alfgarciamora (talk) 21:59, 26 February 2016 (UTC)

Planned addition: General strain theory
Main Article: General Strain Theory General strain theory is a sociology theory developed by Robert Agnew. The core idea of general strain theory is that people who experience strain or stress become distressed which may lead them to commit crime in order to cope. An example being people who use illegal drugs to make themselves feel better. The theory was developed to conceptualizes the full range of sources in society where strain possibly comes from. The theory also focuses on the perspective of goals for status, expectations and class rather than money.

Biblography[edit source | edit]

— Preceding unsigned comment added by AlxRgo196 (talk • contribs) 17:07, 8 March 2016 (UTC) AlxRgo196 (talk) 17:10, 8 March 2016 (UTC)
 * Agnew, Robert. "General Strain Theory." Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice (2014): 1892-900. Web.
 * Agnew, Robert. "Building on the Foundation of General Strain Theory: Specifying the Types of Strain Most Likely to Lead to Crime and Delinquency." Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency 38.4 (2001): 319-61. Web. 8 Mar. 2016.

Planned changes. Insight welcomed
Two more planned changes will be:
 * The addition of information on Robert K. Merton.
 * The addition on how strain was measured.
 * The Addition of the Criticism of Strain Theory.

More information on the changes will be added shortly. AlxRgo196 (talk) 17:17, 8 March 2016 (UTC)

Planned addition: General strain theory redone
Plan for the general strain theory addition:

General strain theory (GST) is a sociology theory developed by Robert Agnew. The core idea of general strain theory is that people who experience strain or stress become distressed which may lead them to commit crime in order to cope. The theory was developed to conceptualizes the full range of sources in society where strain possibly comes from, which Merton's strain theory does not. The theory also focuses on the perspective of goals for status, expectations and class rather than money. GST introduces new categories for strain such as
 * Loss of positive stimuli (death of family or friend)
 * Presentation of negative stimuli (physical and verbal assaults)

An example of General Strain Theory is people who use illegal drugs to make themselves feel better.

Bibliography

Agnew, Robert. "General Strain Theory." Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice (2014): 1892-900. Web.

Agnew, Robert. "Building on the Foundation of General Strain Theory: Specifying the Types of Strain Most Likely to Lead to Crime and Delinquency." Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency 38.4 (2001): 319-61. Web. 8 Mar. 2016. AlxRgo196 (talk) 19:34, 8 March 2016 (UTC)

Planned addition: General strain theory Final
Main Article: General Strain Theory

General strain theory (GST) is a sociology and criminology theory developed by Robert Agnew. The core idea of general strain theory is that people who experience strain or stress become distressed or upset which may lead them to commit crime in order to cope. One of the key principle of this theory is emotion as the motivator for crime. The theory was developed to conceptualizes the full range of sources in society where strain possibly comes from, which Merton's strain theory does not. The theory also focuses on the perspective of goals for status, expectations and class rather than focusing on money( as Merton's theory does).

GST introduces 3 main sources of strain such as 1.Loss of positive stimuli (death of family or friend) 2.Presentation of negative stimuli (physical and verbal assaults) 3.The unable of blockage to reach a desired goal.

An example of General Strain Theory is people who use illegal drugs to make themselves feel better, or a student assaulting his peers to end the harassment they causes.

Sources:
 * 1) Agnew, Robert. "General Strain Theory." Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice (2014): 1892-900. Web.
 * 2)  Agnew, Robert. "Building on the Foundation of General Strain Theory: Specifying the Types of Strain Most Likely to Lead to Crime and Delinquency." Journal of   Research in Crime and Delinquency 38.4 (2001): 319-61. Web.
 * 3) Agnew, Robert. "General Strain Theory and Delinquency." The Handbook of Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Justice Krohn/The Handbook of Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Justice (2015): 237-56. Web.
 * 4)  Paternoster, R., and P. Mazerolle. "General Strain Theory and Delinquency: A Replication and Extension." Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency 31.3 (1994): 235-63. Web.AlxRgo196 (talk) 21:59, 8 March 2016 (UTC)   — Preceding unsigned comment added by AlxRgo196 (talk • contribs) 21:57, 8 March 2016 (UTC)

Planned addition: General strain theory Final again
Main Article: General Strain Theory

General strain theory (GST) is a sociology and criminology theory developed by Robert Agnew. The core idea of general strain theory is that people who experience strain or stress become distressed or upset which may lead them to commit crime in order to cope. One of the key principle of this theory is emotion as the motivator for crime. The theory was developed to conceptualize the full range of sources in society where strain possibly comes from, which Merton's strain theory does not. The theory also focuses on the perspective of goals for status, expectations and class rather than focusing on money (as Merton's theory does). GST introduces 3 main sources of strain such as
 * 1) Loss of positive stimuli (death of family or friend)
 * 2) Presentation of negative stimuli (physical and verbal assaults)
 * 3) The unable of blockage to reach a desired goal.

An example of General Strain Theory is people who use illegal drugs to make themselves feel better, or a student assaulting his peers to end the harassment they causes.

Sources: AlxRgo196 (talk) 22:13, 8 March 2016 (UTC)
 * 1) Agnew, Robert. "General Strain Theory." Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice (2014): 1892-900. Web.
 * 2) Agnew, Robert. "Building on the Foundation of General Strain Theory: Specifying the Types of Strain Most Likely to Lead to Crime and Delinquency." Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency 38.4 (2001): 319-61. Web. 8 Mar. 2016.
 * 3) Agnew, Robert. "General Strain Theory and Delinquency." The Handbook of Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Justice Krohn/The Handbook of Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Justice (2015): 237-56. Web.
 * 4) Paternoster, R., and P. Mazerolle. "General Strain Theory and Delinquency: A Replication and Extension." Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency 31.3 (1994): 235-63. Web.

You're doing a great job, Alex! You might want to talk about Robert Merton, who we're reading for class this week. He has a whole theory of deviancy and social strain that differs from this general strain theory. You definitely will want to link to his ideas and to his Wikipedia pages. Alfgarciamora (talk) 22:23, 8 March 2016 (UTC)

Thank you professor, I have been doing research on Merton as he is the one who developed strain theory. I would like to know is this good enough for the movement to mainspace. AlxRgo196 (talk) 23:12, 8 March 2016 (UTC)

Planned addition: Robert K. Merton
Plan for the Robert K. Merton addition:

Robert King Merton was a sociologist who argued that society maybe set up to enough deviance to a large degree. Merton believe that when socially accepted goals put pressure on the people to conform, people are forced to either work within the system or become a member of a deviant sub culture to achieve the goals. Merton's theory became known as Strain Theory. Merton believe that when individuals become faced with a gap between the social goal and their current state, strain will occur. Then, people have 5 ways to adapt:
 * 1) Conformity: pursing cultural goals through socially approved means.
 * 2) Innovation: using socially unapproved or unconventional means to obtain culturally approved goals. Example: dealing drugs or stealing to achieve financial security.
 * 3) Ritualism: using the same socially approved means to achieve more modest and humble goals.
 * 4) Retreatism: to reject both the culturally goals and the means to obtain it and find a way to escape it.
 * 5) Rebellion: to reject the culturally goals and means and work to replace them.

It is still a work in progress, but this is want I have so far.

Sources:
 * 1) Merton, Robert King. Social Theory and Social Structure; toward the Codification of Theory and Research. Glencoe, IL: Free, 1957. Print.
 * 2) Merton, Robert K. 1932. “Social Structure and Anomie.” American Sociological Review 3(5): 672-682.

AlxRgo196 (talk) 23:16, 8 March 2016 (UTC)


 * Yes yes yes! This all looks so excellent!  Start posting on the main page and hopefully that will engage other Wikipedians and encourage them to add stuff.  I'm very proud of you, Alex.  This is exceptional work.  Alfgarciamora (talk) 23:36, 8 March 2016 (UTC)

Planned addition: criticism of Strain Theory
I plan on adding a list of criticism to be put on the talk page shortly. AlxRgo196 (talk) 20:31, 29 March 2016 (UTC)

Planned addition: criticism of Strain Theory
Robert K. Merton's Strain Theory received several criticisms such as: 1.Merton's theory overstates the crime of the lower working class and understates white collar crimes. 2.Strain Theory fails to explain white collar crime, the perpetrator of whom have many opportunities to achieve through legal and legitimate means. 3.Merton deals with individuals forms of responses instead of group activity which crime involves. AlxRgo196 (talk) 21:01, 29 March 2016 (UTC)

Planned addition: criticism of Strain Theory list
Strain Theory has received several criticisms such as: 1.Strain Theory best applies only to the lower class as they struggle with limited resources to obtain their goals. 2.Strain Theory fails to explain white collar crime, the perpetrator of whom have many opportunities to achieve through legal and legitimate means. 3.Merton deals with individuals forms of responses instead of group activity which crime involves. 4.Merton's Theory is not very critical of the social structure that he says generate the strains. 5.Strain Theory neglects the inter and intrapersonal aspect of crime. 6.Strain Theory fails to explain to us about crimes based in gender inequality. AlxRgo196 (talk) 21:21, 29 March 2016 (UTC)

Update, March 31, 2016
You've done an EXCEPTIONAL job, Alex. I have learned so much just by reading your page, and I know that people all over the world will benefit from your insights here. One suggestion is for you to try and link some of the words, names, and concepts to their Wikipedia pages. It helps your page if it links up to other pages. I see the direction that you are taking this page, and it looks so great. You've earned a solid A for this rough draft. I commend you for such a great job. Alfgarciamora (talk) 17:38, 31 March 2016 (UTC)

Planned addition: Final changes
I am planning to:
 * 1) I will add a section for strain theory to clearly define it.
 * 2) I will add a section to the theories section to talk about Cloward and Ohlin theory
 * 3) I will add a section in the theorist section for Cloward and Ohlin.

AlxRgo196 (talk) 13:10, 4 May 2016 (UTC)

Planned addition: Strain Theory
Strain Theory is a sociology and criminology theory developed in 1957 by Robert K. Merton. Theory states that society puts pressure on individuals to achieve a socially accepted goals (such as the American dream) though they lack the means, this leads to strain which may lead them to commit crimes. Examples being selling drugs or becoming involved in prostitution to gain financial security. Strain may either be:

Structural: this refers to the processes at the societal level which filter down and affect how the individual perceives his or her needs, i.e. if particular social structures are inherently inadequate or there is inadequate regulation, this may change the individual's perceptions as to means and opportunities; or

Individual: this refers to the frictions and pains experienced by an individual as he or she looks for ways to satisfy his or her needs, i.e. if the goals of a society become significant to an individual, actually achieving them may become more important than the means adopted.

reference: Merton, Robert K. (1932). "Social Structure and Anomie". American Sociological Review 3 (5): 672–682.

AlxRgo196 (talk) 14:28, 4 May 2016 (UTC)

Planned addition: Final Final changes
My lasts changes to the Wikipedia article are to add a test and studies section with info on tests and studies done on strain theory. AlxRgo196 (talk) 21:10, 4 May 2016 (UTC)

Planned addition: Studies
Strain theory was tested following its development. Most of these test examined ideal goals such as occupational goals and individual expectations, which would most ideally lead to crimes if not achieved under rule of strain theory. However, most of the research found that this was not the case. An example of these studies was a study done by Travis Hirschi in the 1969. He analyzes a large body of data on delinquency collected in Western Contra Costa County, California that contrast with strain theory. These results and other criticisms lead to the abandonment of Strain Theory around the 1970's to the 80's. AlxRgo196 (talk) 00:27, 5 May 2016 (UTC)

Links
Some of the links in the article such as {Mann, J.J.; Waternaux, C.; Haas, G.L.; Malone, K.M. (1999). "Toward a clinical model of suicidal behavior in psychiatric patients". American Journal of Psychiatry. 156: 181–189. doi:10.1176/ajp.156.2.181} do not work. They do not lead to a proper website and they should be fixed.Gandhiaj (talk) 22:22, 10 March 2018 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Crime and Media
— Assignment last updated by Dmaccartney (talk) 18:33, 9 October 2023 (UTC)

planned edition: institutional anomie theory
Institutional anomie theory (IAT) is a macro-level criminological theory developed in 1994 by Steven Messner and Richard Rosenfeld.

Messner and Rosenfeld concur with Merton's claim that American culture overemphasizes goals of monetary success. Though, they deviate from Merton’s focus on what is now referred to as the legitimate opportunity structure; instead, they argue that the high crime rate in the U.S. is caused by specific cultural values, such as The American Dream, and the dominance of economy over all other social institutions. Messner and Rosenfeld assert that in American culture economic success is valued above everything else, which socializes Americans to value:


 * 1) achievement orientation: gaining success through hard work and determination
 * 2) individualism: focus on monetary success rather than who you are as a person, and gaining success through your own hard work, 'no free handouts'
 * 3) universalism: the idea that all members of a society are equally socialized to value monetary success, and all members have equal opportunity to attain success
 * 4) the ‘fetishism of money’” (Messner and Rosenfeld 2001:68): a type of materialism, U.S. societal obsession with wealth as the primary marker of success or worth

These values are also necessary to perpetuate the cultural importance and value of economic gain above all else, and this imbalance between economy and all other social institutions affects society in a few important ways. First, as economic gain is the most important goal, economic pressure becomes more obvious, and promotes action. Second, the diminished value of social institutions, such as family and education, which would usually help to reduce crime rates and provide legitimate opportunities become far less effective.

IAT also helps to explain the motivation for white-collar crime, whereas Merton's focus on opportunity seems to apply mainly to the lower classes. As the already wealthy and powerful would not experience legitimate opportunity strain, IAT posits that success is open-ended. Meaning that even members of society who are already monetarily successful are driven by the constant pressure to acquire evermore wealth, and are celebrated for doing so.

Derived from Merton's Strain Theory, IAT expands on the macro-levels of the theory. IAT's focus centers on the cultural goal of wealth as a determinant of crime. An anonymous entity (talk) 21:21, 28 October 2023 (UTC) An anonymous entity (talk) 21:21, 28 October 2023 (UTC)